SHOALS OF churned mud in a ploughed field, artistic hay stacks, in a reverse V shape, few with black earthen pots placed in reverse positive over the stacks is a scene nowadays in farm fields adjacent to national highway number 25 when one drives from Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh to Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. Bullock cart being driven by a couple ploughing the field, some using tractors, but all getting ready for monsoon to arrive, which has been slightly delayed this time around.
A farmer was busy giving last touches to his hay stack, which is like an art of rural impression. Few had scarecrows though at this time there was no harvest but maybe it was to scare away birds and crows to not to take away seeds !
A local from a village on the outskirts of Shivpuri was busy along with his wife laying dried tree trunks, and was preparing a temporary shed for cattle’s and buffaloes - as when rain strikes they need to be in shade.
Today, the sun was at its peak, but last evening it looked like it may rain as clouds had appeared in the sky, which was looking darker and fiery, but it did not rain, though it did there was some pitter patter with blow of winds, but nothing like monsoon rains.
The wait for monsoon is evident, as the view was full from right to left on farm field and in the eyes of people one met was - when will the rains arrive? Weather is humid, and this part of India has witnessed drought so there is concern, which is why good rainfall means a lot to them.
